Women around the world take great pride and satisfaction in looking after children, the elderly and sick members of their family, as well as their homes – what specialists call ‘unpaid care and domestic work’. And well they should! Family and community life, our societies and oureconomies depend upon this work.
And yet in countries rich and poor, women – and often girls – are unfairly made to shoulder an unequal and excessive amount of unpaid care. The time and energy required for care limits women’s opportunities to earn an income, develop personally and thrive professionally. Excessive unpaid care work is stubbornly holding back women’s and girls’ empowerment.